If I were running my own company right now, this is probably the approach I would take. I'm a big privacy advocate, but I'm also anti-authoritarian and don't like being forced into things by overbearing laws.
Blocking Europeans sounds a lot more reasonable than having to hire a lawyer and spend double the time and effort just to be compliant while writing a new JavaScript MVC Todo List app.
GDPR is happening because for the last several (10s?) of years companies have been playing fast and loose with people's data. They've had their chance and they've blown it fairly comprehensively.
The people (by and large government is run by the people, for the people, at least in some countries) have had enough. I've had enough, and this is us telling companies they've had their chance and not made the grade so we're dictating now. As a person, and father (who has to worry for the rest of my live about my offspring's health and happiness, and linked to that, privacy) I'm very happy with this law. I support it, as seemingly a lot of people do. That's not authoritarian, it's the will of the people.
And no, I'm not some sort of communist beard stroker, I'm pretty central in my political beliefs and I also don't appreciate governments sticking their noses in where it's not welcome, but this, this is welcome.
Blocking Europeans sounds a lot more reasonable than having to hire a lawyer and spend double the time and effort just to be compliant while writing a new JavaScript MVC Todo List app.